Large Citrine Crystals
Although widely referred to as citrine these crystals are heated amethyst.
Due to it being relatively rare the mineral citrine is widely produced artificially. When amethyst is heated to more than 500°C the crystals change colour.
Distinguishing natural citrine from heated amethyst is relatively easy certainly in regards to most commercial grade stones. The most obvious clues are colour and price.
Artificially produced citrine tends to have a rich yellowish orange colour and can even be almost brown.
Natural citrine often has a subtle yellow or golden colour. Although it can also be distinctively orange, the crystals would never include opaque white quartz.
A natural citrine crystal in this size were it be possible to find one would command an eye-watering price.
Many minerals are heat treated for the purpose of enhancing or changing colour. Heat has been used in this way for thousands of years.
Like most of the world's heated amethyst these citrine crystals come from Brazil.
